Yorkshire Terrier: breed standard, maintenance and care

In those days when Scottish farmers and British miners took the Yorkshire terrier to fight rats on farms, stables and mines, people probably did not know that this small, determined and active dog, a participant in races for rats, would in the future become the most famous beauty salon - A symbol of wealth and security.

Modern Yorkshire Terriers

The Yorkshire Terrier, whose standards have been displayed for many years, is now a very popular breed. Its representatives live in both rich houses and in ordinary apartments. And the reason for this was the most beautiful characteristics of the breed: non-smelling wool without a smell, miniature sizes of the animal, plasticity of behavior, stable psyche, which allows you to easily adapt to life in urban conditions.

However, fashion and popularity are not always beneficial to thoroughbred dogs. In this situation, there was a Yorkshire terrier. The standard of the breed is not always maintained at the present time. The high cost of puppies causes the desire of unscrupulous breeders to cash in on the sale of offspring and yet do not bother to control the exterior and the psyche. Getting into families, such dogs become wonderful companions and friends, but there are incidents that can cause trouble to the owners: animals can mark territory, snap, bite, spoil furniture or bark on all passers-by. This happens infrequently, but it does happen. Never in life will this kind of behavior be tolerated by a real Yorkshire terrier. The breed standard assumes not only the presence of external characteristics, but certain behavior and character.

Features of the Yorkshire Terrier

Wool - this is the main feature, which can boast Yorkshire Terrier. The breed standard assumes the presence of silky wool without a pod, which resembles human hair. It is very soft and beautiful, and therefore requires constant care. Every day you need to comb it, and those individuals who participate in exhibitions, before going out for a walk, you certainly need to wind the hair on the hairpins. Such a labor-intensive procedure will help to preserve the hairy part, protect it from damage and prevent the emergence of split ends, because in exhibition specimens the wool is longer than the growth of the animal.

Yorkshire Terrier, the standard (photo is given in the article) which assumes the presence of a long beautiful coat, can sometimes have a brittle and puffy pile. With this problem, properly selected make-up and regular combing will help. Even if such care does not work, and the wool gets lost in the coils, then there's nothing to be done - it's a genetic characteristic that can not be changed.

There is one more feature that the Yorkshire Terrier possesses. The breed standard does not limit the size of the animals. Minimal height and weight are not indicated. So the situation with the size of dogs is ambiguous. Some breeders oppose large species of this breed, others seek to deduce very small creatures that have a hysterical character and poor health. Amateur breeding aggressive or cowardly dogs leads to the fact that the owners of such a pet in the first year of life will have to take him to the correction of behavior to the zoopsychologist. To avoid all these problems, you need to get a healthy and not very small puppy.

Yorkshire Terrier: standard, description of the breed

The first publications on the standard refer to 1986. It should be noted that it was supplemented several times and changed. The current standard of Yorkshire Terrier RKF with the latest additions was published on 10.11.2011.

An interesting fact is that the minimum size of an animal (weight and height) is not indicated. It's hard to imagine, but the Guinness Book brings a terrier, whose growth is only 6.5 centimeters.

What is the modern Yorkshire terrier? The standard of the breed describes the animal as a cheerful and active companion with an amazing silky long coat, which on the back dissolves as a parting.

The dog has a compact strong body and a graceful posture.

Considerable attention is paid to the character of the animal in the standard. The dog must certainly be inquisitive, active, friendly to people, without any attacks of nervousness and aggression. Balanced and lively character is most acceptable for this breed, which makes it a salon dog and a good companion.

How tall is the Yorkshire Terrier? The dimensions of the standard are not limited.

Terrier appearance

How does the Yorkshire Terrier (standard) look like? Description of the animal should start with the head. It should not have large sizes, stand out with long ears, a round skull or an elongated muzzle. The nose of the terrier is necessarily black, the eyes are small. The muzzle has a clever expression. The ears are set in the form of a letter V and covered with a red fur.

Whatever the size of the Yorkshire Terrier, the standard (photo shown in the article) requires you to watch your teeth. The dog must have a scissor bite, the incisors must be strictly vertical, and there should not be a distance between the lower and upper teeth. A serious disadvantage is the absence of several teeth in the animal.

A compact, properly folded body enables the Yorkshire terrier to actively move effortlessly.

Standard color

In the standard, the wool itself and its color are very accurately described. Currently, there are a variety of Yorkshire terriers, their colors range from black to bright red. But the real thoroughbred dog has a black cap with a bright red tan. As you grow older, the black shade is replaced by steel, but bright tans should not fade.

The red color of the coat should not be raised on the front paws above the elbow joint, but on the hind legs - above the hock joint. On the muzzle a rather long hair grows near the base of the ears.

The dog must move freely, rectilinearly. In the latest edition of the standard, it was even pointed out that wool should not stop the animal from moving.

Serious deficiencies of the breed are: incorrect color, timid or aggressive behavior.

What is the life expectancy of a dog?

Speaking about this breed, it should be clarified how many live Yorkshire terriers (standard). How long will the dog please its owners?

How many Yorkshire Terriers live? The standard of the breed of terriers implies good health of the animal. Species of this species live from twelve to fifteen years, and some up to twenty. At the same time their behavior does not reflect age, even in advanced years they run and have fun, like little puppies. Therefore, if we talk about how many Yorkshire terriers live (the standard), we can safely say that they will please their owners for many years.

But as for the mini terriers, they do not have such a strong body and are more susceptible to all sorts of diseases. The average duration of their existence is from seven to nine years. However, it should be borne in mind that mini-terriers have very brittle and fragile bones and a weak, even feeble body - so much laid by nature. Therefore, they often involve bad situations. Such pets require increased attention from the owners, since they can damage, dislocate or break the foot, even jumping off the couch. They are so small that you can step on them or pinch the door. Therefore, do not buy such a dog for those who have small children.

The standard of weight of the Yorkshire terrier, as we have already said, is not specified, but the breeders know that it should be approximately 3.1 kg. Mini-terriers usually weigh no more than two kilograms.

Little Yorkies (one to two kilograms)

Yorkshire Terrier (mini) is an ornament of a woman's handbag or pocket. In his apartment you can hardly find. Such a pet easily coexists with all the inhabitants of the house: from people to mice and hamsters, chinchillas. The fine standard of Yorkshire terriers suggests that they eat little, but they have a very capricious nature. The dog can not bear loneliness. But it is not so much interested in games, how great is the desire to just sit on the hands of its master. This species is completely unsuitable for breeding. In addition, it must be remembered that such an animal requires a lot of attention even in terms of safety. It can be easily pinched or crushed. Especially neat should be children, because they are very fond of playing with animals, and young Yorkers should be treated with particular attention.

Yorkshire Terrier (standard)

Yorkshire Terrier - an ideal dog for breeding and exhibition career. He is an excellent friend in long travels, a good companion for children. Yorkshire Terrier is not only a great sportsman and watchman, but also a wonderful nanny. He easily learns circus tricks.

But the animal's fur will require you to carefully care. It is very much, and therefore very often Yorkers are sheared, give the hairline intricate forms. Such a dog is suitable for keeping in any family.

What is the difference between the standard and the mini terrier?

Currently, many seek to make it a mini-York, because they are so small and cute. Apparently, such popularity affected the price, as the breed standard is cheaper than a cute baby. Although you need to understand that the terrier mini does not bear tribal value.

What is the difference between the Yorkshire Terrier mini and the standard? The difference between these animals is quite large, although they belong to the same breed:

1. Little Yorkies can not be taken to a family with young children. The animal's bones are very fragile, and therefore it's very easy to maim.
2. A puppy mini needs constant supervision: he can not be allowed to jump from the couch or bed, as he can dislocate the paw and hit his head.
3. You can not knit miniature girls. "Dimensions" and the weight of the animal do not allow giving birth and bear offspring. A dog may just die.
4. In small yorkies, the fontanelle does not overgrow, so you need to be very careful with it.
5. As for the standards, they are stronger health, live longer. They are always cheerful and active.
6. Yorkshire Terriers (standard) get along famously with all family members, especially with children. They take an active part in all games. In contrast to York mini, the standard does not need close guardianship. Such a dog is quite strong and enduring.

Yorkshire Terrier standard and mini, the differences between which we discussed are very different, and this is due primarily to their size. What kind of animal is more suitable for you - a home doll or an active dog - decide for yourself.

Maintenance and care

Yorkshire Terrier will feel great not only in the city apartment, but also in the country estate. The main condition for keeping a pet is having a properly equipped place to sleep.

It is also necessary to have tools for caring for the hair, claws, eyes and ears, sets of clothes for different weather and a handbag for carrying the animal.

A place to relax a york is chosen so that it is not in a draft. An important point is the remoteness of this place from the master bedroom. Dogs of this breed do not like being alone, so they will not want to rest away from people. They should always be in the spotlight. It is better to arrange a dog's bench on some high ground - so it will be more convenient for an animal to observe all household members, and at the same time and be aware of all events.

Yorkshire terrier certainly need to equip a toilet with a column. The place for a toilet is better to be chosen somewhere near the entrance, because dogs like to mark the edges of their territory.

Combs for terriers need to be purchased from metal, but brushes - wooden or with natural bristles. Plastic tool for wool is not suitable, because it causes the formation of coils. Those animals that do not walk very often will need a claw.

For your pet you need a large amount of cosmetics (conditioners, shampoos, means for caring for paws, ears and claws). It must be selected individually. Buy small packages and test them for a month.

Eyes are inspected daily. Of these, using lotion remove crust. The ears are inspected and cleaned every week. Milk teeth in dogs should be removed from a veterinarian. In addition, we must not forget that Yorkes must be vaccinated, protect them from infectious diseases.

Yorkshire terrier food

Feeding is one of the main moments in the terrier's life, in which he begins to show his character. Animals can easily abandon the usual food and beg for something delicious from the owners table.

It is not necessary to arrange bowls with dry food throughout the house. It is enough to give the Yorker fifteen minutes to eat, and then to clean the food in the refrigerator. Animal nutrition can be varied with seasonal vegetables, fruits, boiled rice. Yorkshire terriers will be useful for homemade yogurts. For their preparation use low-fat homemade milk. Meat for feeding is taken with veins and cartilage. A clean cut is not suitable for feeding, as it does not give the proper load on the gastrointestinal tract. Meat should be cut into pieces and given to its dog, in no case it is recommended to give minced meat (it is poorly digested).

When choosing dry pet food, you should know if they are suitable for him. The main indicator is the good work of the digestive system, as well as the excellent condition of the coat and skin.

How to choose the right puppy?

If you want to get yourself a pet of this breed, first of all you need to pay attention to the Yorkshire terrier standards. Puppy is selected according to certain characteristics:

1. The kid must have a pedigree with the date of birth and nursery.
2. International passport (veterinary) with vaccinations should be available.
3. You should pay attention to the age of the animal. All vaccinations are made up to 2.5 months, which means that the breeder should not sell the puppies before.
4. You only need to buy a terrier in the nursery.

A healthy dog should have a cheerful and cheerful appearance.

Terrier training

A puppy of a terrier needs to be trained from the first day, as soon as it appears in your house. First of all, it must be taught to respond to your name, and also to accustom to the place of feeding.

In the vaccination period puppies should be taught to the harness and the collar. It is best to put them on alternately and at this time entertain the dog so that she does not pay any attention to them.

As soon as the terrier gets used to these accessories, you can fasten a short leash and let him walk with him around the apartment.

Once the dog passes all the vaccinations and quarantine, it can be started to be taken out for walks. This moment is very important for the animal, as it must learn to communicate with its relatives, this will avoid problems with behavior at the exhibitions.

Walk the dog in an active form. This means that you need to constantly play with it, call to yourself, treat it to goodies. You can not just walk monotonously down the street, not paying attention to the york. Walk should bring joy and communication not only to the dog, but also to its owner. The best option for pastime is to play street games without a lead: hide-and-seek, catch-up. The animal must learn not to lose sight of its owner.

Yorkshire terriers quickly learn such a sport as agility. It gives them special pleasure to go through all the shells. Terriers even participate in competitions in the category of the smallest representatives.

Those who are keen on running can also bring their dogs to the process. This kind of sport is called kanicross.

I want to note that a beautiful long coat can not be combined with an active sport. In the winter, snow, dust in summer, dirt - all this has a detrimental effect on the hairline, for which it is necessary to take extra care. Very rarely, people manage to combine the active sports life of York with exhibitions. Therefore, the owners, as a rule, choose one thing: either medals or an active way of life.

However, one must understand that not every Yorkshire terrier can play sports and actively play. Mini, the standards are very different in terms of health and physical capabilities. It is not necessary to talk about an active way of life in relation to the terrier mini. Therefore, if you want to have an animal that will run with you and go in for sports, the smallest representatives of the breed who are simply incapable of such feats will not be suitable for you.

History of the breed

Homeland Yorkshire terrier is England, or rather, the two northern counties - Lancashire and Yorkshire. The immediate ancestor is the Waterside terrier, which also has small dimensions and refers to semi-longhaired breeds. The main task of such an animal was the destruction of rodents, as well as accompanying the hosts in traveling along rivers and canals. It is for this reason that the breed received this name. At that time peasants were not allowed to have large dogs, it was believed that they would help to engage in poaching their masters.

Another breed, similar to the Yorkshire Terrier, is the Manchester Terrier. All the ancestors of the Yorks were larger animals with half-long hair. Their weight was from six to seven kilograms.

The first representatives of the breed Yorkshire blue with tan marks were standardized in 1886. And in 1898 the first club of fans of these miniature dogs was formed.

Interesting facts about terriers

Initially in the homeland of the terriers were used as fighter rodents. However, at present, the breed has long forgotten about its original purpose and lives in our homes as pets.

In recent years, the breed has entered TOP-10. And the smallest representative with a weight of 113 grams is listed in the Guinness Book of Records.

The york yarn is similar in structure to human hair. It does not cause allergic reactions in humans. As for the intellect, the Yorkies occupy 23rd place out of 133.

The history of the breed includes a number of famous individuals, among them a Yorkie named Smoky. With an increase of 18 cm, he weighed 1.8 kg. It was found by American soldiers in a fox hole in the jungle of Guinea. The animal, along with its owner, passed two years of service in the army, regularly jumping with a parachute, eating on soldiers' food. After Smokey's death (in 1957) a monument was erected in the form of a small dog in a helmet.

In the UK, the oldest Yorkshire Terrier, who is already over 22 years old, still lives.